Method of filtering water or wastewater

ABSTRACT

A filter for removing at least some impurities (e.g. foreign matter of any nature including a solid, a liquid or a gas) from water or wastewater. A vibrator operably associated with at least a portion of the filter for imparting a vibrational force to enhance any one or more of numerous aspects of the filtration process including: (i) installation of the filter and/or various components thereof; (ii) servicing of the filter and/or components thereof; and, (iii) operation of the filter during a filtration cycle and a cleaning cycle.

RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

The subject patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/662,897 filed on May 11, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No.8,317,036, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method forremoving impurities from water and/or wastewater. More specifically, thepresent invention is directed to a filter having a filter compartment inwhich influent is passed to remove impurities from water or wastewaterand a vibrator operably associated with the filter compartment forimparting a vibrational force to the filter compartment. Preferably, thevibrator can be used to enhance any one or more of numerous aspects ofthe filtration process including: (i) installation of the filter and/orvarious components thereof; (ii) servicing of the filter and/orcomponents thereof; and, (iii) operation of the filter during afiltration cycle and a cleaning cycle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various filters have been employed to remove at least some impuritiesfrom water or wastewater. Prior filters include but are not limited toupflow filters or upflow clarifiers, downflow filters, bi-flow filtersand aerators. The present invention is directed to a filter of anysuitable type and a vibrator operably associated therewith to enhanceany one or more of numerous aspects of the filtration process including:(i) installation of the filter and/or various components thereof; (ii)servicing of the filter and/or components thereof; and, (iii) operationof the filter during a filtration cycle and a cleaning cycle.

By way of example only and not limitation, filters having granular bedshave employed air scour devices to improve cleaning of the granularfilter bed. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,534,202 and 5,673,481 disclose, inter alia,a known method of inserting an air grid into a filter bed. Specifically,these patents disclose fluidizing the filter bed to permit insertion ofthe air grid in the filter bed without removing filter media from thefilter bed. While this was a significant improvement over prior systems,there are instances where fluidization of the filter bed is notpractical and/or possible. One aspect of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is to use a vibrator to insert an air grid into afilter bed without fluidizing the filter bed and without removing filtermedia from the filter bed. It is important to note that the presentinvention is not limited to the use of a vibrator operably associatedwith a filter to insert an air grid into a filter bed. Rather, thepresent invention includes operably associating a vibrator with a filterto enhance any one or more of numerous aspects of the filtration processincluding: (i) installation of the filter and/or various componentsthereof; (ii) servicing of the filter and/or components thereof; and,(iii) operation of the filter during a filtration cycle and a cleaningcycle. This would include for example, using the vibrator to insertother elements into a filter bed without fluidizing the filter bedincluding but not limited to monitors for monitoring one or moreconditions of a filter of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,980,755and 6,159,384. The present invention further includes but is not limitedto operating a vibrator such that the vibrator imparts a vibrationalforce to the filter during at least a portion of the filtration cycle toimprove particle to particle contact so that particles to be filteredcan agglomerate. The present invention further includes but is notlimited to operating the vibrator during at least a portion of acleaning cycle to enhance agitation of the filtering element be it agranular bed, settling tubes, settling plates, membranes or other typeof filter element to improve cleaning of the filter element.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel and unobviousapparatus and method for removing impurities from water and/orwastewater.

Another object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is toprovide a suitable filter with a vibrator to enhance any one or more ofnumerous aspects of the filtration process including: (i) installationof the filter and/or various components thereof; (ii) servicing of thefilter and/or components thereof; and, (iii) operation of the filterduring a filtration cycle and a cleaning cycle.

Still another object of a preferred embodiment of the present inventionis to provide a filter with a vibrator for imparting a vibrational forceto at least a portion of a filter bed so that a component of a filtercan be readily inserted into at least a portion of the filter bedwithout fluidizing all or a portion of the filter bed and withoutremoving filter media from the filter bed.

A further object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention isto provide a filter with a vibrator for imparting a vibrational forceduring at least a portion of the filtration cycle to improve thefiltration efficiency of the filtering element.

Yet another object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention isto provide a filter with a vibrator for imparting a vibrational forceduring at least a portion of the cleaning cycle to enhance cleaning ofthe filtering element

Yet a further object of a preferred embodiment of the present inventionis to provide a filter with an adapter to permit height adjustment of afilter component including but not limited to a fluid conduit.

Still a further object of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is to provide a filter with a vibrator for imparting avibrational force to at least a portion of a filter bed so that acomponent of a filter can be readily inserted into at least a portion ofthe filter bed without passing any fluid through the filter bed andwithout removing filter media from the filter bed.

It must be understood that no one embodiment of the present inventionneed include all of the aforementioned objects of the present invention.Rather, a given embodiment may include one or none of the aforementionedobjects. Accordingly, these objects are not to be used to limit thescope of the claims of the present invention.

In summary, one preferred embodiment of the present invention isdirected to an apparatus for filtering water or wastewater including afilter having a filter compartment for removing impurities from influentand a vibrator operably associated with the filter compartment forimparting a vibrational force to at least a portion of the filtercompartment.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed toapparatus for filtering water or wastewater including a filter having afilter compartment including a filter bed having at least one layer offilter media for removing impurities from influent. The apparatusincludes at least one fluid conduit for directing a fluid through thefilter bed. At least a portion of the at least one fluid conduit isinserted in the filter bed. A vibrator is operably associated with thefilter compartment for imparting a vibrational force to at least aportion of the filter bed to permit a portion of the at least one fluidconduit to be inserted into or removed from the filter bed.

A further embodiment of the present invention is directed to anapparatus for filtering water or wastewater including a filter having afilter compartment in which at least some impurities are removed frominfluent and an air grid disposed in the filter compartment fordirecting air through at least a portion of the filter compartment. Theair grid includes a drop pipe, at least one header and at least onelateral. An adapter is operably associated with the drop pipe forpermitting vertical adjustment of the drop pipe. The adapter forms anair chamber along a portion of the drop pipe between a first end of thedrop pipe and a second end of the drop pipe. The drop pipe has at leastone orifice in communication with the air chamber such that air from theair chamber can pass into the drop pipe.

Still another embodiment of the present invention is directed to amethod of filtering water or wastewater including the steps of: (a)providing a filter having a filter compartment in which at least someimpurities from influent are removed; (b) providing at least onevibrator; (c) operably associating the at least one vibrator with atleast a portion of the filter; and, (d) transmitting a vibrational forceto at least a portion of the filter.

Still a further embodiment of the present invention is directed to amethod of filtering water or wastewater including the steps of: (a)providing a filter, the filter including a filter bed in which at leastsome impurities from influent are removed and a conduit for directing afluid through at least a portion of the filter bed; (b) providing atleast one vibrator; (c) operably associating the at least one vibratorwith at least a portion of the filter bed; (d) providing a component atleast a portion of which is to be partially inserted in the filter bed;(d) transmitting a vibrational force to at least a portion of the filterbed while directing fluid through at least a portion of the filter bedat subfluidization velocity; and, (e) inserting at least a portion ofthe component into the filter bed during step (d).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a preferred embodimentof the present invention depicting an air grid prior into installationinto a filter bed.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a preferred embodimentof the present invention depicting an air grid being inserted into afilter bed.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a preferred embodimentof the present invention depicting an air grid subsequent toinstallation into a filter bed.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of an air grid formed in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention with a vibrator removablyattached thereto.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an adapter formed in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of an adapter formed in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an right end view of an adapter formed in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of a drop pipe formed in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a drop pipe formed in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The preferred forms of the invention will now be described withreference to FIGS. 1-9. The appended claims are not limited to thepreferred forms and no term and/or phrase used herein is to be given ameaning other than its ordinary meaning unless it is expressly statedotherwise. Fluidization as used herein means at least 20 percentexpansion of a filter bed. Sub-fluidization velocity of a fluid means avelocity of a fluid in which at least a portion of the filter bed isexpanded less than 20 percent.

FIGS. 1 Through 9

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 9, a filter system A employing a preferred formof the invention is illustrated in one of many possible configurations.Filter A includes a tank B, a filter bed C, an underdrain D, an air gridsystem E, a vibrator F and an air supply source G. While filter A asshown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is a downflow filter (i.e., influent is passeddownwardly through the filter bed C during filtration), any filter canbe used including but not limited to an upflow filter, an upflowclarifier and a bi-flow filter. As used herein, the term filter refersto any device that removes at least some impurities (e.g. foreign matterof any nature including a solid, a liquid or a gas) from water orwastewater. Tank B can be formed from concrete, metal or other suitablematerial. Further, tank B can be rectangular, circular or any othersuitable shape.

Filter bed C, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, includes a layer of anthracite 2on top of a layer of sand 4 supported by a layer of gravel 6. It will bereadily appreciated that any suitable-filter bed may be used including asingle layer filter bed. Further, while a gravel layer 6 is depicted assupporting the layers of filter media 2 and 4 above a conventionalwheeler bottom type underdrain D, the underdrain D may be anyconventional type including an underdrain formed from a plurality oflaterals having a porous plate connected thereto obviating the need fora gravel layer. Further, while the filter element is depicted as agranular filter bed, vibrator F can be used with any suitable filterelement to enhance filtration or cleaning of the filter element. Forexample, the filter element can be settling plates, settling tubes ormembranes.

The air gird system E includes a substantially vertically extending droppipe 2, a substantially horizontally extending air header 4 and aplurality of substantially horizontally extending laterals 6. The airgrid system can include multiple grids in filter compartment 8. The airgrid system E can be of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,534,202and 5,673,481. However, the present invention is not limited to the airgrid disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,534,202 and 5,673,481. Rather, anysuitable air grid may be used. Further, the air grid may be omitted. Forexample, vibrator F may be used to insert other components into a filterbed including but not limited to a monitor for monitoring at least onecondition of the filter. The monitors disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,980,755 and 6,159,384 are one type of monitor that can be insertedinto filter bed C using vibrator F.

In the preferred form of the present invention, the vibrator F isremovably connected to a plate 10 disposed at an upper portion of droppipe 2 to impart a vibrational force through the drop pipe 2, header 4and the plurality of laterals 6. Plate 10 is connected to the upper endof drop pipe 2 to create a sealed upper end. A vibrational force will beimparted to the filter bed C as the laterals 6, header 4 and drop pipe 2come into contact with filter bed C. Preferably, the vibrator F has afrequency of between 30 to 60 HZ and exerts between 400 lbs to 1,000 lbsof force to allow the air grid system E to be inserted into filter bed Cas depicted in FIG. 3. One suitable vibrator is the Martin VibrationSystems Model CDH 2.5 vibrator. However, the present invention is notlimited to such a vibrator. Rather, any suitable vibrator may be used.

Most preferably, the frequency of vibrator F matches the resonantfrequency of the air grid system E. It should be noted that the resonantfrequency of the air grid system E will vary with the configuration ofthe air grid, the media profile, water depth in the filter compartment10 and other well known factors.

While the air grid system E is depicted in FIG. 3 as being installeddirectly above gravel layer 6, the final position of air grid system Ein the granular media may be varied as desired.

In the most preferred form of the present invention, the air grid systemE is at least partially inserted into the filter bed C by imparting avibrational force to filter bed C without passing any fluid through thefilter bed C and without removing media from filter bed C. This isdesirable especially in those instances for example during initialinstallation of a filter system where a fluid source may not beavailable. In another preferred form of the present invention, the airgrid system E or other component is at least partially inserted infilter bed C by imparting a vibrational force to filter bed C whilesimultaneously directing a fluid through the filter bed where thevelocity of the fluid is sub-fluidization, i.e., where at least aportion of the bed does not expand more than 20 percent. This isdesirable as the vibrational force necessary to insert the component inthe filter bed C can be significantly reduced. Further, thesub-fluidization velocity feature may allow for considerable savings inequipment costs including costs of pumps and related components.Moreover, the application of a vibrational force in combination with thesub-fluidization velocity to the filter bed C allows for insertion of acomponent in a filter bed C without removing filter media in thoseinstances where it is impractical or impossible to fluidize the filterbed. It should be noted that the fluid used with the vibrational forcemay be a liquid or a gas or a combination thereof. Further, the fluidmay be influent, filtered water or air. Preferably, the fluid is passedupwardly through filter bed C when inserting air grid system E or othercomponent into filter bed C.

While vibrator F is located on the top of drop pipe 2, the vibrator maybe located in any suitable position including attached to or mounted ona wall of the filter compartment 8, mounted on or attached to header 4and mounted on or attached to one or more of laterals 6. Alternatively,vibrator F could be mounted on anther element in contact with filter bedC.

Air grid system E may be removed from filter bed C for servicing orreplacement by following the same procedure for inserting air girdsystem E into filter bed C.

Preferably, even after air grid system E is inserted into filter bed C,vibrator F is also operated during at least a portion of the filtrationcycle to enhance particle to particle contact resulting in theagglomeration of impurities such that the impurities are easily trappedin the filter bed or other filter element. Specifically, the vibrationalforce will be transmitted to the influent passing through the filtercompartment 8 enhancing particle to particle collision resulting inagglomeration of impurities. When vibrator F is not in use, it can bereadily removed from drop pipe 2 and filter compartment 8.

Preferably, even after air grid system E is inserted into filter bed C,vibrator F is also operated during at least a portion of a cleaningcycle of filter bed C or other filter element to enhance agitation toaid in dislodging the impurities from filter bed C or other filterelement. For example, vibrator F may be used while a liquid and/or airare passed upwardly through filter bed C. Further, operation of thevibrator F to impart a vibrational force to filter bed C could be aseparate cleaning step before or after passing a fluid through filterbed C.

In the most preferred form of the present invention, drop pipe 2 isprovided with an adapter 12 for permitting vertical adjustment of droppipe 2. Adapter 12 is particularly advantageous as it allows one toreadily compensate for a drop pipe or other component that isinadvertently sized incorrectly (e.g., too short or too long) withoutany field alteration to the size of the drop pipe 2. It should be notedthat adapter 12 is optional.

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, adapter 12 includes a hollow tubular member14 having a hollow cavity 16 extending therethrough to receive drop pipe2. Referring to FIG. 4, adapter 12 includes an upper seal 18 and a lowerseal 20 to form an air chamber surrounding drop pipe 2. Preferably, asseen in FIG. 8, drop pipe 2 includes orifices 22 and 24 to permit air inthe surrounding air chamber to pass through drop pipe 2, header 4 andlaterals 6 into filter bed C. Adapter 12 further includes a conduit 26in communication with cavity 16 at one end and air supply source G atthe other end to convey air from the supply source G to cavity 16. Aplate 28 is preferably formed at one end of conduit 26 to facilitateconnection with a mating element of air supply source G.

While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, itis understood that the preferred design can be further modified oradapted following in general the principles of the invention andincluding but not limited to such departures from the present inventionas come within the known or customary practice in the art to which theinvention pertains. The claims are not limited to the preferredembodiment and have been written to preclude such a narrow constructionusing the principles of claim differentiation.

I claim:
 1. A method of filtering water or wastewater, said methodcomprising the steps of: (a) providing a filter, the filter including afilter bed in which at least some impurities from influent are removedand a conduit for directing a fluid through at least a portion of thefilter bed; (b) providing at least one vibrator; (c) operablyassociating the at least one vibrator with at least a portion of thefilter bed; (d) providing a component at least a portion of which is tobe partially inserted in the filter bed; (d) transmitting a vibrationalforce to at least a portion of the filter bed while directing fluidthrough at least a portion of the filter bed at subfluidizationvelocity; and, (e) inserting at least a portion of the component intothe filter bed during step (d).
 2. A method as recited in claim 1,wherein: (a) step (d) of claim 1 is performed such that the filter bedexpands less than 19 percent.
 3. A method as recited in claim 1,wherein: (a) step (d) of claim 1 is performed such that the filter bedexpands less than 10 percent.
 4. A method as recited in claim 1,wherein: (a) step (d) of claim 1 is performed such that the filter bedexpands less than 5 percent.
 5. A method as recited in claim 1, furtherincluding: (a) operating the vibrator to vibrate an air grid such thatthe frequency of the vibrator is approximately equal to a resonantfrequency of the air grid; and, (b) step (a) of this claim is performedwhile the air grid is being inserted in the filter bed having at leastone layer of filter media.
 6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein:(a) during step (b) of claim 5, the vibrator imparts a force of betweenapproximately 400 lbs to 1,000 lbs.
 7. A method as recited in claim 5,wherein: (a) said air grid includes a horizontally extending air headerand a plurality of horizontally extending air laterals connected to thehorizontally extending air header and step (e) of claim 1 is performedsuch that the horizontally extending air header and each of theplurality of horizontally extending air laterals are positioned below anupper portion of the filter bed.
 8. A method as recited in claim 1,further including: (a) operating the vibrator to vibrate said componentsuch that the frequency of the vibrator is approximately equal to aresonant frequency of said component; and, (b) step (a) of this claim isperformed while said component is being inserted in the filter bedhaving at least one layer of filter media.
 9. A method as recited inclaim 8, wherein: (a) during step (a) of claim 8, the vibrator imparts aforce of between approximately 400 lbs to 1,000 lbs. on said componentto allow said component to be submerged in the filter bed.
 10. A methodas recited in claim 9, wherein: (a) said component is an air gridincluding a horizontally extending air header and a plurality ofhorizontally extending air laterals connected to the horizontallyextending air header and step (e) of claim 1 is performed such that thehorizontally extending air header and each of the plurality ofhorizontally extending air laterals are positioned below an upperportion of the filter bed.
 11. A method as recited in claim 1, furtherincluding the steps of: (a) providing an underdrain beneath the filterbed for directing a fluid upwardly through said filter bed; and, (b)during step (d) in claim 1, directing a fluid from said underdrainupwardly at subfluidization velocity.